General and Operations Managers salary in California
General and Operations Managers in California earn a median of $124,390 a year ($59.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 300,840 workers.
Pay ranges from $60,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $293,810 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $105,770. California ranks 11th of 51 states for general and operations managers pay. There are 17 general and operations managers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $152,250, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for general and operations managers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $60,370 | $29.03 |
| 25th percentile | $81,620 | $39.24 |
| Median | $124,390 | $59.81 |
| 75th percentile | $186,230 | $89.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $293,810 | $141.26 |
| Average (mean) | $152,250 | $73.20 |
Half of general and operations managers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,365.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,182.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,784.23 |
| Weekly | $2,392.12 |
| Hourly | $59.81 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
General and Operations Managers salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $163,860 | 17,230 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $149,990 | 43,520 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $125,830 | 104,610 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $119,600 | 26,230 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $118,460 | 17,980 |
| Vallejo, CA | $114,410 | 2,310 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $111,390 | 3,410 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $109,970 | 4,090 |
| Napa, CA | $106,680 | 1,410 |
| Salinas, CA | $105,680 | 2,600 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $105,360 | 1,770 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $105,040 | 3,800 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $104,730 | 490 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $104,460 | 4,100 |
| Modesto, CA | $104,330 | 2,790 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $103,870 | 5,770 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $102,260 | 23,090 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $101,840 | 2,280 |
| Yuba City, CA | $101,210 | 730 |
| Fresno, CA | $101,010 | 6,800 |
| El Centro, CA | $99,250 | 730 |
| Visalia, CA | $98,600 | 2,080 |
| Redding, CA | $98,510 | 1,240 |
| Chico, CA | $98,390 | 1,260 |
| Merced, CA | $94,990 | 1,020 |
Highest-paying states for general and operations managers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $173,690 |
| District of Columbia | $168,000 |
| South Dakota | $137,400 |
| Connecticut | $137,220 |
| Delaware | $137,220 |
| Washington | $133,750 |
| Colorado | $131,840 |
| New York | $130,860 |
| Massachusetts | $127,220 |
| New Hampshire | $124,680 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executive | $218,600 | $105.10 |
| Sales Manager | $134,910 | $64.86 |
| Managers, All Other | $174,560 | $83.92 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $218,290 | $104.95 |
| Financial Manager | $180,770 | $86.91 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $141,480 | $68.02 |
| Marketing Manager | $193,620 | $93.09 |
| Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers | $77,030 | $37.04 |
| Administrative Services Manager | $108,890 | $52.35 |
| Construction Manager | $133,160 | $64.02 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $83,210 | $40.01 |
| Food Service Manager | $78,260 | $37.63 |
| Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary | $159,950 | — |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $123,780 | $59.51 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 11-1021. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a general and operations managers make in California?
The median salary for general and operations managers in California is $124,390 a year, or $59.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $60,370 for the lowest-paid 10% to $293,810 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid general and operations managers make in California?
The top 10% of general and operations managers in California earn at least $293,810 a year. The top 25% earn $186,230 or more.
What is the starting pay for general and operations managers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $60,370 a year, and a quarter of general and operations managers earn $81,620 or less.
How many general and operations managers work in California?
About 300,840 general and operations managers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.